Denver Nugget’ Kosta Koufos (41) grabs a rebound during the first half of a NBA preseason basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 in Las Vegas.

It is political season, but pro basketball is not a democracy. George Karl will cast the only vote in the race among the three candidates vying for the starting center job with the Nuggets. The polls may flip-flop between now and opening night, Oct. 31, but on Tuesday, Coach Karl seemed to give the early advantage to Kosta Koufos.

“Kosta is probably our most fundamentally sound big guy. He knows what we want better than the other guys,” Karl said.

Koufos, the 7-foot, 265-pound center from Ohio State, started 24 games for the Nuggets last season but averaged only 16.5 minutes overall, with averages of 5.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. A strained left knee hampered him during the second half of the season and into the playoffs, with Koufos playing in only three of Denver’s seven first-round games against the Lakers.

The 23-year-old resolved to hit the gym harder over the summer, and the extra work is evident in his sturdy physique. Through the first three preseason games, Koufos has maintained a pedestrian scoring average of 5.7 points, but he has been the team’s best rebounder at 10.7 per, including 13 rebounds in Monday night’s win over Golden State.

JaVale McGee has started the first three preseason games at center but has averaged only 7.7 points and 4.3 rebounds, while Timofey Mozgov has put up seven points a game and five rebounds on average. For a team that probably won’t need its center to be the big scorer, the bigger minutes likely will go to the better rebounder.

But Koufos maintained a politically correct demeanor when discussing the competition among the bigs.

“It’ll only make each other better. There are no petty jealousies whatsoever. It’s just a true competitive spirit,” Koufos said. “We all get along and encourage each other. We all just want to win, and right now the good thing is we’re all learning to play together and we’re all starting to play well every game.

“For a big man, I want to be a good defensive player and help the team out with screens, rebounds and score when I need to.”

Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson probably has a tougher job than most point men in the NBA, having to learn the tendencies of three centers who figure to share the workload. But he’s happy at the diversity in the pivot.

“He’s a workhorse, man,” Lawson said of Koufos. “He gets down there and does the dirty work: tip-ins, keeping the ball alive and finishing. He’s a great big man for us. He just attacks the offensive glass and the defensive glass.”

Said Karl: “He did a great job with his body. He had knee surgery, and he came back probably healthier and stronger than last year. Most guys (with) injuries, they kind of get out of shape. But he’s stronger.”

CenturyLink, the telecommunications company that ended its sponsorship agreement with Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall because of his protests during the national anthem last year, said it will not terminate its agreement with current client Emmanuel Sanders.